Leather-tempering belt



-W. C. WRIGHT, W. J; YOUNG AND G. B. GROVER'.

LEATHER TEMPERING BELTJ 1,370,392. v PatentedMar. 1,1921.

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WALLACE G. WRIGHT, WILLIAM J. YOUNG, AND GEORGE B. GROVER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO BASLER MACHINERY COMPANY, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

LEATI-IER-TED'I PERING BELT.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application filed April 20, 1918. Serial No. 229,731.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, lVALLAon C. \Vnrenr, VVILLIAM J. YOUNG, and Greece B. Gnovnn, citizens of the United States, and residents of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Leather-Tempering Belts, of wh ch the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a speciflcation, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to machines for rendering leather flexible, by the operations of bending or flexing the leather by a pair of belts, and the object of the invention is to improve and perfect the belts for such uses.

The operation of rendering leather flexible, particularly the sole blanks for use in the manufacture of boots and'shoes, by machines using belts to convey and bend thesoles and illustrating means to apply tempering solution to the sole, is shown in the U. S. Patent to Basler, No. 1,175,680, issued March 14, 1916, and as the present application is directed to the feature of the belts for such machines, reference is hereby made to said prior patent to the general structure of a typical machine in which the belts of the present invention may be advantageously utilized. Heretofore,.in this particular art of rendering leather flexible by bending it to and fro and applying tempering liquid thereto, it has been found advanageous to accomplish the bending or flexing of the leather while held between the contacting surfaces of a pair of belts, which were employed to hold the leather under a strain during the bending or flexing, and preferably during the feeding or conveying of the leather through the machine, thus producing a progressive bending or flexing action on the sole blank. This resulted particularly when thus conveying and bending the leather in the presence of a tempering solution, either in a bath or at one or more moisture applying stations, in effectually working the tempering solution into the pores of the leather, rendering the leather flexible, pliable and workable for substantially a long time, keeping it in temper during the entire processes of shoe manufacture, and thus faciliheretofore.

belts of such manufacture.

'lVe have discovered that the operation of such machines can be greatly improved and the work rendered much more satisfactory, than has heretofore been possible, by providing the belts with moisture carrying and applying means, so that a supply of tempering liquid is actually taken up and carried by the belts during the conveying'and flexing operation on a sole blank, and the tempering solution thus carried is more intimately and thoroughly worked into the sole during the bending, flexing and conveying of the sole between the pair of belts, than This feature is most important in machines of this type, and we believe that this is a distinct novelty and therefore wish to claim the same broadly.

In carrying out this feature we may use any kind and provide the contacting surfaces with series of moisture carrying means, such as grooves, recesses, corrugations or the like, adapted to receive, hold, carry and apply tempering solution to the work in intimate relation therewith during the conveying, bending and flcxing operations. Such recesses and moisture applying means may be fitted to or incorporated with any desirable type of belts, but as will be further explained, we prefer to employ the same in, and find it advantageous in combination with a belt of yielding material.

Another feature of the presentinvention is that we have discovered it to be advantageous and important to make these belts of yielding, rubberlike material, substantially with the elasticity of rubber. The prior machines, such as shown in said patent, provided a yielding belt tightening device for each belt, to give an adjustment of tension onthe belts and on the work conveyed throughthe same, and also to automatically compensate for the different thicknesses, lengths, and unevennesses of the work put through said belts, but by making these belts of rubber or rubberlike material, a considerable range of elasticity is thus secured directly in the belts, enabling a pair of such rubberlike belts engaging, clasping and conveying a sole between them to more intimately, accurately and closely conform to the contour of the sole, and follow its sinu ous course around the flexing rolls during the conveying and bending action.

Further features of the invention, important combinations of parts, and details of construction will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pair of belts, and the rolls around which they are led, in machines of the type shown in said prior patent, more particularly showing the arrangement of a pair of belts in the improved machine illustrated in our copending application, Ser. No. 314,378, filed July 30,1919;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the surface of the belts on that side where the work is received and held;

Fig. 3 is a modified view of the belt carrying moisture applying means;

Fig. 4: is a still further modified view of moisture receiving, holding and carrying means in a belt on the side next the work; an

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view through the recesses of Fig. 4., showing approximate depth of moisture carrying recesses.

It will be understood that we have shown a typical path or course for the belts in a machine for rendering leather sole blanks flexible, for illustrative purposes only, the feature of the moisture carrying means in the belts, however, being believed to be broadly new, and therefore being useful in other fields of work, and machines, whether employed for flexing leather or otherwise.

As shown in the drawings, a pair of belts, preferably of rubberlike material, 1 and 2, are provided, each belt being led over a plurality .of rolls, one or more of said rollers being rotated by any suitable source of power, so that the belts are driven in unison and in corresponding direction, as shown by the arrows. The belt 1 is led over guiding rollers 3, 4, 5, and around a set of flexing rolls 6, 7, 8 and 9, in conjunction with the second belt 2, which latter is led over guide and driving rolls 10, 11 and 12. if desired, one of the rolls in each set, for example the roll a in the line of the belt 1 and roll 11 in the line of belt 2, are mounted on sliding journal bearings and yieldingly actuated to provide a tension on the belts' In the particular alinement of belts and rolls as herein illustrated, a piece of leather, such as a sole blank, is fed into the throat A, either by hand or otherwise and is grasped by the belts 1 and 2 and conducted around the set of flexin rolls 6, 7, 8 and 9, being delivered at B, 'wliere the blank may be removed from the machine or delivered to a still further set of flexing belts. During this passage of the sole blank from A to B it is held firmly and under any desired degree of strain or tension between the contacting faces of the belts 1 and 2, each side of the work being thus under tension while it is bent first on one side, and then on the opposite, these bendings or fiexings moving progressively through the blank as it is conveyed along the course of the rolls from 6 to 9. The features, functions and advantages ofthus bending a leather blank while held under the tension of the conveying belts, is more fully explained in said prior patent. The present invention accomplishes the same advantages to a greater degree by having the belts 1 and 2 of rubber or rubberlike material and furthermore by providing the work engaging surfaces of each belt with tempering, holding, carrying and applying means, as will be now explained.

As the sole blank is fed into the throat A,

as indicated in dotted lines at 13, we contemplate the application of tempering solution, in any suitable manner. I In order to deliver the supply of tempering solution to the sole and to the belts, we find it desirable to supply such solution at the throat A, by means of pipes 14, 14:, leading at either side of the sole blank 13, providing each pipe with one or more perforations 15, 15, through which the tempering solution may be forced, sprayed or delivered onto the belts and in sufficient quantity to coat or fill the moisture carrying recesses. This particular arrangement of pipes and delivery means is not herein specifically claimed, being further illustrated, described and claimed in our said copending application, Ser. No. 314,37 8. In order to receive, hold, carry and supply the tempering solution to the work from the belts during the entire flexing and bending operation, 2'. 0., throughout the course of the belts from the entry of the sole blank therein, around the rolls 6, 7, 8 and 9 to the release of the blank from this pair of belts, we provide the inner or contacting surfaces ofeach belt with moisture carrying means. As shown in Fig. 2, the inner surface of a type ofbelt 16, which may be used for the belts 1 and 2, is formed with a plurality of grooves 17, 17, constitutingrecesses to receive, hold, carry and supply liquid to a sole held between the contacting surfaces of the pair of belts during that portion of their travel. over the rolls 6 to 9,.during which the sole blank 13 is operated upon. In the particular form shown in Fig. 2, we prefer to so form therecesses as to leave protecting rimlike ridges or portions 18 18, along the opposite marginal sides of the belt, and also to leave an intermediate strengthening section 20, throughout the length of the belt. This arrangement of inclining the recesses 17 enables them to cover a portion of the sole blank as it is being flexed over the rollers 7, 8 and 9, and during the period that the pores of the leather are being opened, thus permitting the tempering fluid carried by the recesses 17 to more quickly penetrate the stock andaid in completing the pliability of the stock during the flexing actions of the machine. The formation of these recesses 17 thus inclined further adds strength to the'belt, as the strain of driving and the operation of the machine requires considerable strength, both transverselyand longitudinally, while the slanting arrangement also tends to convey or feed the liquid to different portions of the work throughout the length of the recesses 17.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification wherein the belt 21 has its innersurfaces formed with recesses 22 extending crosswise, capable of carrying a considerable quantity of liquid, practically throughout the entire width of the stock. In some lines of work this form of relatively long grooves 22, suplying the liquid over the entire and continuous surface widthwise of the stock, is desirable.

In Fig. 4: I have illustrated a still further modification showing a plurality of pockets 23, 23, in staggered position throughout the belt, leaving a substantial margin 24 at each side of the belt 25 and giving a very strong construction, both transversely and longitudinally for the belt 25.

The extent to which the recesses 17, 22 and 23 may be made for the quantity of tempering liquid to be held, can be varied as desired. Preferably the depth of such recesses, as shown in Fig. 5, is substantially from one quarter to one third of the thickness of the belt. Thus in a belt one half inch in thickness the depth of the recesses can be approximately one-eighth of an inch deep without materially weakening the belt nor impairing its efliciency in the tension and hold which the belts exert upon the leather stock operated on. Other modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The important features of the present invention consist in the provision of a belt or belts, or equivalent yielding conveying and flexing devices having tempering carrying means therein which will receive, hold, carry and apply the tempering liquid to the work during the conveying and flexing action around a zig-Zag or tortuous path. A further most important feature consists in the provision of having these belts of yielding rubber or rubberlike mate: rial, so that each belt, while conveying the work over a tortuous or sinuous path, to bend it backwardly and forwardly, will more closely follow or hug the work at every point. The preferred construction combining these two important features produces belt of rubberlike elasticity, with a plurality of tempering carrying means therein, to hold and supply the tempering solution directly to and into the stock while it is subjected to the bending and.-flexing action, and while itis held closely'under-tension.

Our invention is further described and defined in the form of claims aswfollows:

1. Apparatus of the kind'described, comprising a pair of endlessbelts having aportion of: the surfaces'of: each belt in contact, adapted to support a sole betweenthem,

,means to move said. belts, zmeans todeflect said belts, and liquid carrying means on the sole contacting surface of each belt.

.3. Apparatusof thekind described, comprising a pair of endless belts adapted to have a portion of saidbelts runningin-contact with each other: in a sinuous path," and arranged to support and carry a sole between them, each belt having moisture carrying means on the sole engaging surface in combination with mechanism to supply tempering liquid to said moisture carrying means.

4. Apparatus of the kind described, including mechanism to convey and to undulate a sole, comprising means carried by said conveying mechanism to apply tempering liquid to the sole during said conveying action.

5. Apparatus of the kind described, including mechanism to convey and to undulate a sole, comprising a flexible belt having a plurality of liquid carrying means to apply liquid to a sole during said conveying and undulating action.

6. Apparatus of the kind described, ineluding mechanism to convey and to undulate a sole, comprising a plurality of liquid carrying means to apply liquid to a sole during said conveying and undulating action, said tempering applying means comprising moisture receiving recesses in the conveying mechanism.

7. Apparatus of the kind described, including mechanism to convey and to undulate a sole, comprising a plurality of liquid carrying means to apply liquid to a sole during said conveying and undulating action, said tempering applying means comprising a plurality of moisture receiving recesses in the conveying mechanism.

8. Apparatus of the kind described, ineluding mechanism to convey and to undulate a sole, comprising a plurality of liquid carrying means to apply liquid to a sole during said conveying and undulating action, sald tempering applying means comprising a plurality of moisture receiving recesses in the conveying mechanism, in combination a means in the blank contacting side of said belt, and mechanism to provide an oversupply of tempering liquid to said moisture carrying means.

10. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a plurality of endless belts adapted to engage and convey a sole blank through a tortuous path, moisture carrying means in each belt, and a plurality of tempering supplying devices adapted to give an oversupply of tempering liquid to the moisture carrying means in the belt. a

11. Apparatus of the kind described, having in combination, mechanism to undulate and to convey a sole blank, comprising a pair of endless belts, each of yielding rubber-like material adapted to contact on each side of a sole blank duringa portion of the cycle of operation of the apparatus.

12. Apparatus of the kind described, having in combination, means to undulate and to supply liquid to a sole blank, comprising a pair of endless belts, each belt having moisture carrying means therein.

13. Apparatus of the kind described, having in combination, means to undulate and to apply liquid to a sole blank, comprising a pair of endless belts, each belt having moisture carrying recesses therein.

14;. Apparatus of the kind described, having in combination, means to undulate and to apply liquid to a sole blank, comprisin a pairof endless belts, each belt havinga plurality of moisture carrying recesses in one surface.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVALLACE C. WRIGHT. WILLIAM J. YOUNG. GEORGE B. GROVEB lVitnesses:

H. AsHLnY BOWEN, -MARION O. BROWN. 

